Staf National Conference 2026

Following last year's sell-out conference, we are back at the Stirling Court Hotel for 2026 with No Cliff Edges: Pathways to Adulthood, Connection and Opportunity.

*Please note, the conference is taking place a little earlier this year, so get in quick to reserve your early bird tickets!*

In a landscape where services and systems are increasingly pressured and complex, relationships remain one of our most powerful tools for change.

For care experienced young people and for those who work alongside them, it is the quality of relationships, continuity of support and sense of belonging that play a vital part in shaping the journey into adulthood.

This conference creates a shared space to explore how we best support this journey.

This year’s conference builds on our summit series to focus on what it takes to support real pathways into adulthood.

We will explore how we can:

• Centre lived experience as expertise in shaping systems and practice
• Support and develop clear transitions for young people into adulthood
• Build and sustain relationships that last beyond service boundaries
• Create stability, security and opportunity for young people
• Design services that reflect the complexity that we are facing

Rooted in Staf’s vision of a Scotland where care experienced young people can thrive, this conference is a space to reflect, challenge and reimagine what adulthood aftercare can and should look like.

Workshops are back

Since they were a huge hit in 2025, we will again be hosting workshops from a range of our members and project partners. Details below for anyone who wants to submit a proposal to deliver a presentation or workshop at the event. And we will of course be showcasing all the latest from our Staf projects.

Be a part of it

We are inviting contributions from practitioners, policymakers, researchers, and care experienced young people who want to share:

• Good practice and relational approaches
• Innovative or emerging projects
• Practice-based learning and reflections
• Research that informs better pathways into adulthood
• Creative work that explores connection, identity, and belonging

We are particularly interested in work that shows what is possible when we move beyond systems and focus on people, relationships, and continuity.

We welcome contributions that explore:

Pathways into adulthood

• Moving beyond 'transition points' to sustained pathways
• What helps young people feel secure and supported into adulthood
• Designing systems that don’t create cliff edges

Relationships that last

• Staying close beyond statutory care
• Building trust and continuity in practice
• The role of corporate parenting in adulthood

Stability, security and opportunity

• Housing, income and financial wellbeing
• Education, employment and purposeful futures
• Tackling insecurity and instability in early adulthood

Voice, rights and participation

• Co-production and shared decision-making
• Lived experience shaping systems and services
• Participation that leads to real change

Workforce and practice

• Supporting relational and trauma-informed practice
• Emotional labour and staff wellbeing
• Creating conditions where people can care and be cared for

Creative and expressive approaches

• Art, poetry, film, storytelling or performance
• Expressions of identity, belonging and adulthood
• Creative reflections on care experience and transition

Session formats

We welcome a wide range of contributions, including:

• Interactive workshops
• Practice-based presentations
• Co-produced sessions with lived experience
• Panel discussions (where appropriate)
• Creative performances (spoken word, music, theatre, visual art)
• Short films and digital storytelling
• Exhibits, installations and reflective spaces

We strongly encourage interactive and participatory approaches, rather than traditional presentation-only formats.

How to submit

Please send your short proposal including:

• Title of your session or contribution
• Names and roles of contributors
• Organisation (if applicable)
• Description of what you will share and how
• How it connects to the conference themes
• What participants will take away from your session

Email your proposal to [email protected] by Friday 17 July 2026.

If you would like to discuss an idea before submitting, we would warmly welcome that conversation.

Exhibition opportunities

We will have a range of partners attending with information and exhibition stands. We invite you to get in touch if you would like to exhibit at our conference or sponsor the event.

Explore the available opportunities in our guide or email [email protected] to discuss bespoke options for your organisation.

How to book

Please complete the form below to book your place. If you prefer to pay by invoice, please email [email protected].

Payment is required prior to the event commencing and is non-transferrable to any other event or programme. There will be no refunds for cancellations received after 22 October 2026. Substitute delegates are encouraged - please email [email protected] as soon as possible.

If you have any queries, please email [email protected] or call us on 0141 465 7511.